Phoebe’s t-towel hits the mark with Ken

John A. MacInnes

School pupils across East Renfrewshire have been showing off their learning and skills as part of Fairtrade fortnight.

Hundreds of pupils entered the annual fairtrade competition run by Eastwood MSP Ken Macintosh, this year, to design a fairtrade tea towel.

Ken, who chairs the East Renfrewshire fairtrade forum, presented the winners with a fairtrade prize as well as their winning entry produced and printed as a tea towel. Every pupil who participated in the competition also received a special letter of thanks and certificate from Mr Macintosh.

“I never case to be amazed by the talent and abilities of young people across East Renfrewshire and the entries for this year’s competition were no exception.

“It was not only the quality of designs I saw, but the knowledge of what fairtrade means that the pupils displayed.

“Our young people have been researching and learning where our food and clothes come from and pupils like Phoebe are able to show us how our consumer choices can help farmers and producers in the developing world.

“They are helping make East Renfrewshire a fairtrade community. I want to thank all the pupils for doing their bit for fairtrade and assure Phoebe once again that, despite her design success, this does not mean she has to dry all the dishes”

Fair trade is a social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainability. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. The movement focuses in particular on commodities, or products which are typically exported.